About this review: This review is my honest opinion of this golf ball, which I bought with my own money in June of 2022.

My Take

The TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Ball is for golfers with slower swing speeds. It is TaylorMade’s softest golf ball. This allows golfers to keep some distance in their shot and a soft feel off the face. I like the three-piece construction, and it seems to be pretty durable. I like that it comes in white and yellow colors and is reasonably priced. As a golf teacher, I would recommend this golf ball to my students who have slower swing speeds and want to keep some distance in their game.

About the golf ball I own

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Ball
• Color: White

About me

• Average Score: 78
• Handicap: 6
• Experience: 19 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical Shot Shape: Straight to Fade
• Typical Trajectory: Medium to high

Test conditions

• When I bought this golf ball: June of 2022
• Days tested: Multiple rounds over 4 weeks
• Where I’ve used it: Orlando, FL, area golf courses
• Weather Conditions: Sunny, windy, and damp
• Green Conditions: Bermuda, wet and dry, mostly medium-to-fast speed greens

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a golf ball that I could recommend to my students with slower swing speeds who like a soft compression ball. I was also looking for something with a brand name that was reasonably priced. TaylorMade has been in business for a long time, so I tried it out to see how it would compare to other golf balls in this category.

Why I chose this golf ball

I chose this ball because it is a very soft golf ball with a 60 compression rate. The look was clean and not busy. Other TaylorMade golf balls have proved to be very good, so I had high expectations for this golf ball too. It has a durable ionomer three-piece cover that will extend the value of the ball for more than just one or two rounds.

What I love about it

• Spin:There’s plenty of low spin off the driver. The Extended Flight Dimple Pattern, as TaylorMade calls it, allows the golf ball to stay up in the air longer and have less spin, which equals more distance.
• Distance: This ball can go down the fairway. As soft as the ball is, I am surprised at how it takes off from the driver. It has a nice feeling off the clubface, and it went long. The ball provides pretty good feedback.
• Feel: This is a soft ball at a 60 compression rate. I can feel the marshmallow effect from the ball very easily. It has a nice feel to it instead of like hitting a rock.
• Alignment aid: The alignment on this golf ball is clear and simple to use. I like when the ball doesn’t look busy, and I just take the line and aim where it needs to go. Whether it gets lined up for a tee shot or a putt, this alignment line is very easy to use.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Around the green: Being a very soft ball with a 60 compression rate feels good around the greens. At this price point, this ball rolls more than a premium ball will, but this is expected in the category. The soft feeling is good, but it doesn’t have much feedback. Playing a bump and run more than just chipping it up in the air proves to be an option that one should consider with this ball. It seems much easier to control with a bump and run than chipping.
• Price: This is a three-piece ball with an ionomer cover. The price seems a bit high for its features. It isn’t as durable as I would expect at this price point. The ball scuffs up very easily to me. To me, there are just so many other balls at a lower price point that can provide similar results.

Best shot with this golf ball

I did have a very nice shot using this golf ball. I was about 30 yards from the flag on a mound with a sidehill lie. Knowing it was a soft ball, I went after it a bit to get it out of the rough. Lo and behold, the ball went clean off my club, landed very softly about 10 feet from the flag, and stopped about two feet away for an easy putt. I didn’t think I caught the ball correctly at first but seeing it roll up to the flag made my day.

Value for the money vs. other options

The TaylorMade Soft Response is a bit higher in price than some of its competitors. I like the Titleist Tour Soft even though it’s a couple of dollars more. Still, I have nothing bad to say about the TaylorMade Soft Response. But I don’t have much good to say either. It is a ball that slower swingers should consider, but I don’t believe the bang for the buck is there compared to the Titleist Tour Soft or the Callaway Supersoft.

Final Verdict

The TaylorMade Soft Response is a ball made for mid to high handicappers. It is very soft at a 60 compression rate, which benefits golfers with slower swing speeds. It is a three-piece golf ball with a durable cover. The alignment line is easy to see and simple to use on the green or the tee. I would say that this ball should have consideration in this category, but I would look at others and then decide.

Contact a Golf Expert at Curated.com and see what they think of this ball and your game. Then, try the ball, enjoy the next round, and most of all, have fun!